Man jailed for teen abuse

A pensioner who took advantage of a vulnerable schoolgirl has been jailed for more than four years.

Preston Crown Court heard George Fairhurst believed he was in a relationship with his 15-year-old victim and would regularly meet up with her and text her.

The crime came to light and was reported to the police when he asked a grand daughter to get the girl’s contact details on Facebook.

Fairhurst, 65, a married man from Preesall, but who has been living on North Drive, in Cleveleys, was jailed for four years and two months.

He had pleaded guilty to nine offences of sexual activity with a child, plus three of taking indecent photographs.

Paul Cummings, prosecuting, said the girl was vulnerable.

Around the same time, suspicion had been caused by Fairhurst being seen to hand over some cigarettes to the girl. The girl’s father warned him not to do that.

Fairhurst went on to be arrested. He told police he had met the girl while out walking his dog. After that, they went on to meet regularly.

He initially said he thought she was 16. He accepted knowing she was still at school.

The court heard he had committed sex offences in the past. Chris Hudson, defending, said: “He is a naive man. At the start he wasn’t aware of her age.” Fairhurst was ordered to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely and made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order for 10 years.